Grader



sept. 2s, 192s. 1,555,104

. E. RHODES GRADER Filed April 24. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,555,104 PATENTxoFFlcaJ CARI. E. RHODES, or MAURERTOWN, VIRGINIA.

(3i-BADER.

Application led April 24, 1925. Serial No. 25,675.`

Vof a fruit sorting and grading apparatus,

primarily designed for use in small orchards, whereby sorting of fruit with relation to its size, so that all fruit of a particular size is received in one of a plurality of compartments, from which the fruit can be conveniently removed for packing.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the Linvention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

\ In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a. side elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view.

Figure si. is an end elevation.

Figure 5 isan enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 u of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Figure 1.

The apparatus forming the subject inatter of the present invention comprising what I term a table, the bottom of which is indicated at 10, which may be constructed of any suitable material and vary in size without departing from the spirit of the invention, the table also includes opposed vertical side members 11 which are formed with shoulders 12. The table preferably tapers toward one end as clearly shown in` Figure 2 and is adapted to be supported at an inclina- .tion with relation to the ground or surface by suitable supporting legs, preferably of the construction illustrated in Figure 7. These legs are of relatively different lengths, while each leg includes relatively adjustable sections and 14 respectively. the former being provided with a longitudinal slot 15 to receive the bolt 16 carried by the section 14, so that the lengthrofeach leg can be varied as the occasion may required. The

.sections are held fixed relatively by means .of a winged nut 17 associated with bolts 16 00 in addition to the adjustmentfof each leg, the-upper section 13 is pivoted on'the bolt 18 carried by the adjacent sidefllbfthe table, so that the legs can be folded parallel at opposite sides of the table when the lat- 05 ter is not in use. Hingedlysecured to the underside of the table is a support 19 `which is pointed at its free end and adapted to be embedded in the ground or surface when arranged in the manner shown in Figureil.

This support can also be folded parallel with the bottom'of `tlie table when not in use.

Arranged in end to end relation with the table above described, is a hopperinclud- 75,

ing a bottom 20 and opposed side members 21, these parts are connected by hooksl 22 "f pvoted on the sides 11 of the table and adapted to be received by eyes 23 `carried by the adjacent sides of the hopper just referred to. The hopper 2O has associated therewith a pair of tangent-ially disposed supporting legs 2i each of'whicli is provided with a slot 25r to receive thev boltprojecting from't-he end wall ofthe hopper and having 85 associated therewith a winged nut 26, this construction allows the legs 211 to be adjusted "V with relation to the apparatus and held fiiied relatively thereto'by tightening `the nuts 26.

Arranged longitudinally ofthefapp'aratus 90 and' supported upon' the bottom thereof are angular shaped strips 27 Vwhich define tracks along which the fruit rolls when deposited within the hopper 20, means being arranged within the apparatus for sorting and grading the fruit with respect to its size, so that all fruit of the particular size is received by one of a plurality of compartments in whicl the apparatus is divided.

For this purpose, I employ a plurality of spaced partitions 28 which vare arranged transversely 'of the table above described, each partition having its ends slidably received by grooves 29 formed on the adjacent sides 1l, and also provided with a 105 shoulder 30 adapted to repose upon the shoulder 12 above referred to. This structure is clearly shown in Figure The partitions 2S divide the table into separate compartments, while each partition is formed 1m with a plurality of tapered openings 31, the openings in each partition. being of a fruit deposited in the latter from rolling too rapidly in the direction ot' the first partition 28 in order.

In practice, fruit such as apples, oranges or the like are deposited Within the hopper 2l, and by reason of the inclination of the apparatus, this fruit rolls from the hopper onto the table above described.v The fruit too large to pass through the openings 3l in the iirst partition 28 is confined in 'the .compartment at one. side of this partition,

While the fruit of smaller diameter passes through the openings 3l rolling in the direction of the next partition in order. The openings in the last mentioned partition are smaller than the openings in the partition against which the fruit first comes in contact, so that the fruit as it rolls down the table is checked vor arrested by the different partitions with a view/of` separating or sorting the fruit with relation to its size. In this manner, all fruit of one size is received by one of the compartments. It is of course manifest, that the apparatus may be constructed to sort fruit into any number of sizes by varying the number of partitions and the size of the openings 3l thereof.

It is, of course, to be understood that as the fruit enters each compartment, the large fruit is removed therefrom by hand, thus allowing the smaller fruit to pass into the next compartment. In other Words all fruit that is too large to pass from one compartment into the other, is removed by hand from the compartment in which it is trapped, thus preventing clogging of the apertures through which ythe smaller fruit is adapted to pass.

IVhile it is believed that' :t'rom the toregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to When desired as fall Within the scope/of what is claimed.

Having kthus described the invention, I claim:

l. An apparatus for sorting'and grading fruit comprising a table having opposed sides, means for supporting the table at an inclination, a hopperarranged atoneA end of' the table, a series of spaced ltransverse partitions arranged on said table and dividing the latter into separate compartments, each partition having a plurality of tapered openings, the openings in said partit-ions successively decreasing in diameter from one end of the table to the other.

2. An apparatus for sizing and grading' fruit con'iprising a table including opposed side members, adpistable legs for supporting the table at an inclination, a hopper arranged at one end of the table` means for connecting the hopper and table together, spaced longitudinally disposed strips secured to the bottom of the table and said hopper and defining tracks over which the fruit is adapted toV roll longitudinally of the apparatus, transverse partitions ar rangedV in said table and equi-distantly spaced apart, each partition having a series In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CARL n. iii-iones. 

